National
Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center

Bridging boundaries for research & discovery.

The National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) brings together the science of the natural world with the science of social systems and decision making to solve problems at the human-environment interface. For 10 years, SESYNC has accelerated research and learning that seeks to understand the structure, functioning, and sustainability of coupled social and environmental systems. To further this work, we invite you to explore our research and learning resources.

Learn more about us.

Center Highlights

An image of a Philadelphia city street lined with trees. On the right side of the street, trees are much taller and larger than trees on the left-hand side of the street.

Redlining and Tree Cover Lesson: Measuring Environmental Inequality in Baltimore

Learners use online databases for redlining maps and tree surveys in this lesson to explore contrasting neighborhoods in Baltimore. The aim is to better understand how historical inequality endures to this day and how cities may implement proactive measures to increase environmental equality across a metropolitan area.

Our Latest Newsletter – May 2026

Explore our collection of resources on Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), a series of techniques that help individuals understand the context in which materials are produced—within socio-environmental research and
beyond.

A photo of a group of people standing around some snow sculptures engaged in some sort of activity

Creating Interdisciplinary Research Teams, A Two-Session Exercise

In this resource, learners practice the art of selecting, recruiting, and synergizing an interdisciplinary research team.